Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Devotion for 6 January 2008PSALM 6
By David, possibly in his older years
An Evening Prayer – At an All Time Low
David was feeling really low for a period of time, “I am weary with my sighing; Every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears.” Psalm 6:6 (NASB) He sounded depressed & felt like dying.
All of us must have had such moments. What happened here was that David was suffering from so severe an illness, that he could have died, v5. The illness was due to discipline by the LORD.
When such moments hit, we are often tempted to ask God, “How long, O LORD, how long?” Psalm 6:3b Perhaps the ‘how long more?’ question is a wrong one. The right questions to ponder would be, “What can I learn from this trial? Or, how would I have grown after walking this road?”
From David’s reflections here, we see two exemplary attitudes:
- Humility: he made a humble plea to God, v1-4
- Honest with his feelings: he confessed that he
o Felt like dying, v5
o Was sad & distressed, v6
o Cried a lot, v7
This psalm seemed to make David a pathetic sight. Yet, it’s his trust in the LORD, no matter how small that voice, that shines through, “For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping. The LORD has heard my supplication, The LORD receives my prayer.” Psalm 6:8b-9 (NASB) Truly, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” Psalm 51:17 (NASB)
References for the short write-ups for all 5 books of Psalms:
1. Psalms, classic Libray Edition by Marilyn Hickey
2. ‘Be Worshipful’ / ‘Be Exalted’ by Warren W. Wiersbe